regis philbin retirement

Today is Regis Philbin's last day co-hosting 'Live! With Regis and Kelly,' but it seems as though thoughts of retirement are still far from the 80 year-old's mind. Talking to reporters after Thursday's show he said "I feel pretty good," but he did admit that he may not feel quite so good next week when the show carries on without him.

"I wasn't looking forward to this moment," said Philbin. "You never are in your life when you're leaving a success that you worked your tail off to make." However, the hardest working man in television won't be idle for long. He's embarking next week on a US book tour to promote his new memoir, 'How I Got This Way,' and he's already been toying with the idea of making his own reality show.

However, he told 'The New York Times' that what he'd really, really like to do is host 'Saturday Night Live.' Saying it would be "irresistible" if he got the call, Philbin quipped "It's come up in my mind, but not theirs. I think the audience for that show would rather have some young guy playing a vampire somewhere."

Has Kathie Lee Gifford got a working crystal ball? When Regis Philbin first announced his impending retirement, she said "He'll never retire ... I think his most enjoyable days are ahead of him."

Now it seems as though she was right. In an interview with 'USA Today' Philbin reveals that he's been mulling over the idea of taking on his own reality show after he steps down from 'Live!' in November.

"There are several things that interest me," he says. "You know these reality shows? I would love to do a real reality show where Regis goes out."

In fact, Philbin's already got the ball rolling on a potential new project -- "I did a little pilot for somebody last week in L.A." -- but says he'll wait to see the edited version before he says yes or no to continuing.

Concerning the retirement of his dear friend Regis Philbin, Don Rickles joked, "I'm sick about it," and rolled his eyes. "The man was on the show and started to wheeze while he was talking! The little girl next to him's going [he grins], 'He's gonna go, he's gonna go!'"

But in all seriousness the comedian said on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (weeknights, 12AM ET on ABC), "He's a very wonderful man." And Rickles will still "see him socially," if not on TV. He then did an impression of Reeg out on the town.